Method and apparatus for extracting castings from molds



p 1930- L. A. CAMEROTA 1,756,812

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING GASTINGS FROM MOLDS Filed June 5,1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E Ea F 'INVENTOR: .L 1 Louis xiflamaro'za,

- Y A W R 5 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 29, 1930 UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUIS. A. CAMEROTA,OF BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIG-NOR TO WALTER WOOD,

OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTINGCASTINGS FROM MOLDS Application filed June 5,

My invention relates to the art of freeing a casting from a closedcylindircal flask lined with a refractory mold, and has particularreference to a method and apparatus for extracting-hollow metal bodies,such as cast iron pipes, from sand lined molds.

To explain the advantages of my invention, I shall refer briefly to. theoperation of well-known devices for freeing castings from molds. Forconvenience, castings which have been made in a centrifugal castingmachine are herein referred to as sandspun products, whereas castingsmade in a stationary mold are referred to as sandcast products, theseterms being so used in the trade. With a comparatively large pipecasting having a bell-shaped flange at one end and a bead at the otherend, it is virtually impossible to free the casting from the mold bypressure appliances exerting a straight pull or push on the castingwithout damaging the flask or casting, because, as the bell end of thepipe comes out oftheflask, the bead on the other end compresses the moldahead of it and the pipe finally jams in the flask. With sand-spun pipe,which is necessarily cast in a closed mold, it has been common practiceto shake out the sand mold by subjecting the flask to a succession ofviolent jars on a vibrating machine. While it is possible in this mannerto free the casting from the mold, the time expended in the operation,the laborin handling the flasks, and the danger of damaging the flasksare such that a quicker, more eflicient, and more economical method isdesirable. Means have also been devisedfor cutting out the sand mold bymechanical cutters, and while apparatus of this type possessesadvantages over the jarring process, it is not as positive in itsoperation as the device which is the subject of my invention. Forexample, where there are scabs projecting from the casting into the sandmold, these scabs prevent the proper operation of mechanical cutters andmake it extremely difficult to remove the casting.

To this end I have invented an apparatus for freeing the casting fromthe mold by an air. blast which disintegrates the mold while the castingis drawn out by mechanical 1928. Serial N6. 282,909.

means. My invention is characterized by its positive action, even whenthe casting is defective, and by its safety in that the casting may beremoved without danger of injury to. either the casting or the flask.

With sand-cast pipe, the present practice is to use a hinged flask or aspring-back flask which when opened automatically releases the casting.With flasks of this type, which are roughly handled in the foundry,there are numerous disadvantages. The hinges are distorted by handling,the clamps which hold the flask together are frequently broken, and thejoints do not possess the requisite tightness of fit.

My invention enables the casting to be drawn from the mold in such ashort. space of time that it is particularly desirable for use inconnection with sand-spun products and may also be used to advantagewith sand-cast products, .as it justifies a change from the use of openflasks to the use of closed flasks. Supplementing the advantages alreadydescribed, are those derived from the automatic dumping of the sand asthe mold is disintegratedinto a storage bin and from the use of a devicewhich draws the casting out, disintegrates the mold, and removes thesand in one operation. A further object of my invention is to clear theperforations in the flask of molding sand, so that, immediately upon theextraction of the pipe casting, the flask is ready to be used again.With other types of apparatus, no provision is made for clearing theseperforations, with the result that periodically the perforations aremanually reamed, or defects in the castings are caused by the closure ofthe outlet passages preventing the escape of gases while the mold isbeing charged. For a better understanding of the invention, itsadvantages and specific objects attained with its use, reference shouldbe had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter, in which Ihave illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

- a Fig. I represents a front section of an apparatus for freeingthecasting Where the flask is held in vertical position.

Fig. II represents a modification of the turned on, and the manifold 5is drawn up apparatus adapted to draw the casting from a mold which ishandled, in a horizontal ing 1.

With flasks for sand-cast pipe, such flasks -being customarily pouredand handled in a position.

Fig. III represents an end view of the apparatus shown in Fig. II,showing in addition a control valve for operating the hydrauliccylinder; and,- 1

Fig. I'V represents a cross-section taken along the lines IVIV, ofFig.II.

With reference to Fig. I, the apparatus shown in the drawings includes apipe cast-- ing 1, which is embedded in the sand mold 3 of the closedcylindrical flask 2. The flask. is secured in vertical osition on aplatform 7, which is supported by vertical columns 10, by means ofsuitable clamps 6. At the lower end of the flask 2, there is shown acompressed air manifold 5 which has a series of projecting nozzles 4circumferentially disposed and adapted to move within the annular spacebetween the casting l and the flask 2. A flexible air 'hose 12 leadsdown through the casting 1 to the manifold 5. The nozzles or air cutters4 are positioned at the bottom of the casting and are drawn upwards withthe casting by means of a chain or cable 11 which is operated by thedrum .13.

The flask '2, according to the common practice, is perforated throughoutits length with holes 34 to allow for the escape of gas during thecasting operation. By means of the air pressure from the nozzles 4,these perforations are cleared of sand, and a certain amount of dust andfine sand from the mold is blown through the holes 34; and, for thisreason, I preferably encase the entire apparatus within a hood 4, whichmay be provided with a door to admit the flask. I also employ an exhausttrunk 32 leading from the, hood 4 to a fan or blower 33, so, that thedust and fine sand may be carried ofl.

Beneath the platform 7 there is shown a sand bin 9. As the mold 3disintegrates, most of the sand 8 falls to the bin 9 from whence it maybe deposited on sand conveying apparatus by; opening the gate 15. Thesand 8 in the bin 9 is partially freed of impurities by the action ofthe blower 33, and, accordingly, is in better condition to be used againthan it would otherwise be.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The flask is placed on theplatform 7 in ver-' 'tical position, and the chain orcable 11 isattached to the air manifold 5 which is drawn upward until the nozzles 4are directed into the sand mold 3. The air pressure is then into theflask as the mold 3 disintegrates until the manifold 5 strikes the head16 on the lower end of the casting 1. With the air pressure on, themanifold 5 and the casting 1 are drawn-upward together, the nozzles 4serving, to clear the mold for an appreciabledistance ahead of the head16, so that there no interruption in the movement of the castverticalposition, the apparatus shown in Fig. I is preferred. However, withflasks for sand spun castings, when the operations of casting andhandlingaare carried on with the flasks in horizontal position, theapparatus shown in Fig. II is the more desirable. The latter devicecomprises a hydraulic cylinder 17 with a rain or plunger 18, onrthe endof which is mounted the cnmpressed air manifold 5 which carries thenozzles 4, there being a flexible hose connection 19 leading from thecylinder 17 to the air manifold 5. The valve 20, operated by a lever 21,controls the admission of the hydraulic medium tothe'plunger-18.

The flask 2 is supported on skids 22,its flared endabutting the faceplate 23 to prevent longitudinal motion. A supporting frame 24 takes thethrust of the cylinder 17 and has a suitable opening 25 through whichthe pipe casting 1 is forced out. The frame 24 and The operation of thisapparatus is similar to the previously described one, the plunger 18serving to push the air manifold 5 and nozzles 4 through the annularspace between the pipe casting 1 and the flask 2 while concurrentlyforcing the casting through the flask. The disintegrated sand isdeposited in the bin 30, and flying dust caused by the air blast isconfined by the hood 31.

WhileI have illustrated and described two formsof my invention showingits embodiment in apparatus for handling flasks in horizontal andvertical position, it will be apparent that changes may be made in theform of apparatus disclosed without departing ,from' the spirit of myinvention; that my invention contem lates the handling of flasks ininclined position and the removal of'the castings by various mechanicalmeans; and that any gaseous or liquid medium under pressure may be usedas a substitute for the air jet shown.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A method of extracting a casting from a closed cylindrical flasklined with a' refractory mold, which consists in disintegrating portionsof the mold by a jet of fluid under pressure, while concurrentlyprogressing the casting through the flask.

2. method of extracting a pipe casting,

having a bead atone end and a bell at the ing said manifold and nozzles,together with other end, from a closed flask lined with a resaidcasting, through the flask aforesaid.

fractory mold, which consists in disintegrating portions of the moldfrom the bead end toward the bell end by a jet of fluid under pressure,while progressing the casting through the flask.

3. An apparatus for extracting a casting from a closed cylindrical flasklined-with a mold, comprising mechanical means for moving the castingthrough the flask, said means carrying nozzles for directing a fluid jetinto the mold.

4. An apparatus for extracting a casting from a closed cylindrical flasklined with a refractory mold, comprising means for moving the castingthrough the flask, said means including a member adapted to abut one endof the casting and carrying nozzles for directing an air blast into themold for disintegrating the same.

5. An apparatus for extracting a casting from a closed cylindrical flasklined with a refractory mold, comprising a series of annularly disposedair nozzles adapted to disintegrate the mold and to enter the spacebetween said flask and casting, and mechanical means for progressingsaid nozzles through said space while moving the casting through theflask.

6. An apparatus for extracting a casting from a closed cylindrical flasklined With a refractory mold, comprising means adapted to abut one endofthe casting and to progress it through the flask, and a series ofnozzles on said means adapted to move within the annular space betweenthe casting and flask and to disintegrate the mold as the casting isprogressed through the flask. i

7. An apparatus for extracting a casting from a perforated cylindricalflask lined with a sand mold, comprising nozzles for dlrectlng a fluidjet under pressure into the mold to disintegrate the same and to clearthe flask perforations of sand, and means for progress ng said nozzlestogether with said casting through the flask.

8. An apparatus for extracting a casting I from a closed cylindricalflask lined with a mold, vcomprising a frame having interchangeable faceplates pivoted thereon and adapted to abut one end of the flask, amanifold abutting the casting at the opposite end of the flask andhaving thereon nozzles for directing a fluid jet into the mold, andmeans for forcing said manifold with the casting through the flask.

9. An apparatus for extracting a casting from a closedcylindrical flasklined with a mold, comprising a manifold adapted to abut one end of thecasting and to be accommodated within the flask, nozzles annularlydisposed rect jets of fluid under pressure into said mold,

to disintegrate the same, and means for mov- In testimony whereof, Ihave hereunto signed my name at Florence, New Jersey, this 31st day ofMay, 1928.

LOUIS A. GAMEROTA.

